Trusting science and authority in times of crisis: exploring vaccine confidence across Southeast Asia

Introduction Availability of trustworthy information has a critical role during public health emergency events. Science communication and trust in information sources, health experts and governments significantly influence public adherence to preventive measures and vaccine uptake. To investigate these effects on vaccine confidence in Southeast Asia, a region with diverse governance structures, trust levels and health literacy, this study examines trust in science and authority across six countries. Methods Between January and June 2023, we conducted online surveys in Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam with a total of 6611 respondents to measure their attitudes and trust towards science, vaccines, the government’s management of COVID-19 and international health institutions. Results Our analyses explored the relationship between population trust in science, authorities and vaccine confidence. We found generally high trust in science and authority, along with strong confidence in vaccines. Trust in science increased by 0.98 (95% CI 0.93 to 1.03) for every unit increase in trust in government. Trust in information from medical staff and scientists was highest, while information from politicians and social media was least trusted. We found a positive association between the three indices across some, but not all countries. The perception of scientific support for the vaccine rollout was positively associated with vaccine confidence in nearly all contexts, with effect sizes ranging from 0.55 (in Thailand and Indonesia) to 1.07 (in Singapore). Conclusion Our findings indicate that to enhance resilience against future public health emergencies and improve adherence to directives for non-urgent health concerns, health authorities should focus on communicating scientific support behind health guidelines and build trust in science and authority in the long term.